Man charged with rape and sodomy

MOBILE, Ala. - It's not uncommon for people to meet through a chat service. But Mobile Police say one meeting recently took a dangerous turn.

Police said the initial contact began with a phone call with two people looking to socialize.

"They actually didn't know each other. They met through a TV singles line where you can call and they match you up with other local singles," Officer Christopher Levy said.

Police said Joseph Rhodes and a 33-year-old woman talked on the phone for about a week before she invited him to meet face to face at her home on Bobolink Drive.

"She invited Mr. Rhodes over to her house about 6:40 in the morning to watch TV. While sitting there, he began to touch her and she told him no, but he continued on and grabbed her around the neck and sexually assaulted her," Levy said.

Neighbors are extremely concerned about the woman. They said she was nice and kept to herself.

"It was just a whole bunch of detectives, police and the paramedics came. It's just sad and I feel for her," Adrian Boykin said.

"I think no means no and he was just wrong for doing that," Ashley Osborne said.

Police said if you try to open up by meeting someone through a chat service they have some advice.

"If you are going to initiate some face to face contact, what we try to suggest is to do it in a public place, not at your house. Bring some friends along with you and try to do it during normal business hours so that there will be plenty of people around you," Levy added.

Joseph Rhodes has been charged with rape and sodomy. He is being held in Metro Jail without bond.